CHIN-2129: Dreaming of Modern China

Course description: Discourse about the “Chinese Dream” is ubiquitous in contemporary Chinese politics and culture. What it means, however, is less clear; what is has meant, even more so. What a “modern” China could and should look like has been a point of debate for more than 150 years, and the Chinese people’s dreams and aspirations for their country and kin have changed dramatically over that time. While the Chinese state may be one producer of such dreams, so too are the Chinese people, who have made their own dreams known by engaging in the creative production of literature, film, television, and other media. Surveying a range of media produced between the turn of the twentieth century and today, this course investigates the political and cultural debates and issues that have culminated in the contemporary discourse of the “Chinese Dream.” <br><br> This course is taught in English and all materials will be available in English translation.